South Carolina general contractor bonds.
$5,000 flat.
South Carolina lets a Group 4 general contractor file a $250,000 surety bond in lieu of a financial statement under § 40-11-262 — the bond matches the $250,000 net worth for the group. Ours is $5,000 flat, set by our carrier's rate book for this bond. One soft credit pull, e-signed in 1–2 business days.
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How much does a South Carolina general contractor bond cost?
$5,000 at the $250,000 amount, the same for every applicant.
Three steps to licensed.
Your license is waiting on either a financial statement or this bond. Here's the entire process — no broker phone tag:
Apply once, online
Business details, owner information, effective date. The only extra step is a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Larger bonds like this may get a closer underwriting look.
Reviewed & approved
At $250,000, underwriting may ask for a bit more before approving. If so, you hear from an underwriter within 48 hours. One soft credit pull, never a hard inquiry, and it never affects your score.
E-sign & file with the Board
Pay online and receive the executed bond ready to file with the Contractor's Licensing Board in lieu of your financial statement. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the Board insists.
What it is and who needs it.
What the bond actually does
South Carolina licenses general contractors through the Contractor's Licensing Board at LLR, and sorts them into groups by the size of work they can take on. Each group carries a minimum net worth — for general Group 4, that is $250,000. (Group 5, the top group, runs to $350,000.)
Under § 40-11-262, instead of proving that net worth with a financial statement, you may file a surety bond in the same amount. The bond lists the State of South Carolina as obligee and benefits anyone damaged by your breach of a construction contract or a contract for labor, materials, or professional services.
The bond must be continuous and stay in effect for as long as you hold the license or until you submit a qualifying financial statement. If it is canceled, you must prove net worth within ten days or the license is suspended. It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays, you repay the surety. At this size, underwriting will look closely, but the price stays a flat $5,000.
You need this bond if you're
Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.
If a claim is made
A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.
The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the $250,000 bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.
Renewal and term
The bond runs to October 31 whatever day you buy; the premium covers the period to that date.
Renewal falls on the statutory date, October 31, in the year your term ends.
Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.
How to file it
E-sign & file with the Board. Pay online and receive the executed bond ready to file with the Contractor's Licensing Board in lieu of your financial statement. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the Board insists.
What sets the price
The premium is fixed at $5,000 at the $250,000 amount for every applicant: the carrier’s rate book prices this bond by the form, not by your credit or your business profile.
One soft credit pull, never a hard inquiry, and it never affects your score.
Where a check runs, it decides approval; the rate is the same for everyone approved.
One application: approved instantly, or after a quick credit check.
These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. At $250,000 a closer underwriting look is normal; the price stays a flat $5,000.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other South Carolina bonds.
Been told you need a different amount?
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Skip the financial statement.
$5,000 flat, short application, e-signed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.